Pump not holding vac

Hey guys noticed tonight my pump is not holding a vac it keeps leaking vac, I’m thinking the shrador valve on the bottom is leaking.

I am not a pumper, try something. Position your pump as usual and set your vacuum as you normally would and get a spray bottle and squirt some water where you may think the leak is. If the water bubbles or sucked into the cylinder, that is where your leak is. Have you checked the seal at the base or opening of the pump? Give that a shot

Additionally are you using lube? Schrader valve? Are you talking about the male and female quick connect on the release valve on the bottom of the pump itself? If so there is an o ring on the male piece that should remain lubed to ensure a good seal. There should also be an o ring on the release valve on the pump itself. If you tighten it too much, it can tear and cause a leak.

The other thing I noticed, I switched the plastic quick connects out with stainless steel ones from Boston pump works. Expensive but well worth it.

G

Shave!

It would really help if he would let us know if he is referring to the hand pump or the cylinder.

The easiest thing to check is that the female quick disconnect is firmly screwed into the top of the cylinder.

Yes that is a good one. I’ve also found that it’ll you screw the female connector in too tight it effects the seal as well. At least on the leluv ones it did. It stopped the valve on the female end from snapping closed when the male piece is removed.

It is the vac release valve on the pump, I pulled the hoses off the pump capped the end and it was still

Doing it. Yes I use lube and yes I shaved down there.

Don’t ever use the vac release on the pump. The easiest way to release the pressure is to press your finger in at the base of the cylinder.

Try putting just a drop of silicone oil into the vac release valve and exercise it a bit to see if you can get it to seal.

It is the vac release valve on the pump, I pulled the hoses off the pump capped the end and it was still

Doing it. Yes I use lube and yes I shaved down there. Or shall I say its the pump

I am assuming you have the brass barrel pump. If so, the barrel of the pump is made of 3 cylinder sections screwed together. If the absolute worse happens and the valve won’t seal, you can unscrew the front ¾” length of cylinder from the main barrel to gain better access to the vac release valve. It is tight, so you might need vice grips to get it apart and you will gouge the exterior of barrel a bit, but like I said, this is a last resort measure.

Unless of course the pump is brand new and you can get a replacement from whom ever you bought it from.

One other idea I just thought of. Just seal the valve off completely by putting a blob of silicone caulk over it. :)

Why is this not a good idea? I have been using it several times a day for five years.

I have just never trusted that vac release valve. I always figured that was the weak link for a leak. The easy a fool proof way for me to release the vacuum is to press my finger in at the base of the cylinder.

As firegoat told me earlier (see how I don’t get involved and put all the pressure and responsability on the goat), it depends on what level of vacuum you use. If you use 3-6 hg it won’t create problems, at higher vacuum the sudden change of pressure may cause plenty of red dots and what not. I also used the quick release valve when I wanted to do dynamic pumping.